Electric switch



Oct. 24, 1933. J WATTS 1,932,367

ELECTRIC SII'I'CH Filed July 13, 1932 Patented Oct. 24, 1933 I f 7 1,932,367

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Felix 5. Watts, Bronson, Mich, assignor to Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich.

Application July 13, 1932. Serial No. 622,225

' Claims. (Cl. 2006) This invention relates to electric switches, and, tively, having associated therewith the usual among other objects, aims to provide an improved spring pressed detents 18 for snapping over the switch in controlling relation with two electric wire terminals (not shown).

circuits, one of said circuits being always closed. Fixedly secured to the contact 13 and mechani- 5 The invention is desirably inclusive of means cally and electrically connected therewith as by 60 for actuating the switch to one of its alternative being clamped between the sleeve 17 and the operative positions combined with spring means block 6 I have shown a contact bar 19 having two for returning the switch to the other operative branches 20 which are carried by the block6 position when said actuating means are released. spaced from the other contacts. The bar 'The invention is of particular utility in conbranches each has an angular portion 21 which 5 nection with electricallyenergized gauges such as passes through the block 6 into the interior of are employed on motor vehicles to indicate the the casing 1 between the contacts 11 and 12 that oil pressure or the quantity of fuel. are within the casing, but offset one on each side My invention'will be understood by reference of these'contacts. One of these contacts within 15 to the illustrative embodiment shown in the acthe casing, in this instance the contact 11, and 7 companying drawing, inwhich-- the angular portions 21 of the contact bar 19 are Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a continued longitudinally within the casing beyond switch embodying my invention; a the other contact which is within the casing, in

Figure 2 is a left-hand end View of the structhis instance the contact 12, for a purpose presr 2o ture of Figure 1; 'ently pointed out. The contact 11 is longitudi- 7 Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of nally continued as at 22. Figure 1; Fixedly secured to the contact 12, I have shown Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of a resilient metallic mounting 23 having at one end Figure 1 looking in the opposite direction from an angular portion 24 through an aperture 25 in h 25 the section of Figure 3; and which the contact 12 passes, thereby clamping Figure 5 is a side elevation of the structure of the mounting 23 to the block 6 and electrically Figure 1 showing illustrative circuits associated connecting said mounting with the contact 12. therewith. To prevent rotation of the mounting 23 with re- In the illustrative construction the metallic spect to the block 6, the portion 24 has an angu- 30 casing 1 is cylindrical and is closed at one end by larly directed tail 26 which is received in a slot a bushing 2 which is exteriorly threaded as at 3. 27 in the block 6. A switch may be mounted for example on the in- At its other end the mounting 23 has another strument panel 4 of an automotive vehicle by angularly related portion 28 provided at each side having the bushing 2-pass through a suitable with ears 29. The portion 23 constitutes a ful- 35 aperture in the mounting and a clamping nut 5 crum for the circuit controlling arm 30 which screwed on the threads 3. is here shown hinged intermediate its ends on At its other end the casing 1 carries an insaid fulcrum, as by having the ears 29 received sulating block 6 which also forms a closure for in notches 31 in the sides of the arm 30'and therethis end of the casing, ears 7 being formed on the after bent over the arm. At one end 32 the arm 7 40 casing and received in notches 8 in the periphery 30 is bent to be transverse to the contacts 11, 12 of the insulating block and thereafter bent over and 13 and to the portions 21 of the contact bar 19. the block. At its side opposite the notches 8', the At this end 32 of the arm 30 the arm passes beblock 6 is continued laterally beyond the casing 1 tween the portions 21 of the contact bar 19 and and at this side of the block, ears 9 formed on terminates in an edge 32a engageable with the V I 45 the casing, extend through slots 10 in the block portion 22 of the contact 11. To engage the bar and are thereafter bent over the block. 19, the arm 30 has its edge 32a laterally ex- The insulating block 6 carries, in this instance, t d ill fingelS 33 Which are p s between three parallel insulated contacts 11, 12 and 13, the portions 21 of the contact bar 19 and the conthe contacts 11 and 12 being inside the casin tinuation 22 of the contact 11. The arm 30 thus 50 and the third contact 13 being outside the casing constitutes a contact movable, as presently dedisposed upon the laterally extended portion 14 crib d, t Cause either its edge 32d engage of the block 6. the portion 22 of the contact 11, or, its fingers 33 Each of the contacts 11, 12 and 13 has integral to engage the portions 21 of the contact bar 19.

therewith wire binding means such as the wire To effect movement of the arm 30 on its fulcrum,

terminal receiving sleeves 15, 16 and 17, respec- I have shown an insulating actuator 34 suitably 11( carried by one end of the reciprocable actuator rod 35 which passes through and is slidable in the bushing 2. Upon the side of the mounting 4 opposite to the casing 1, the actuator rod 35 may terminate in a head 36 which is separated from the main body of the rod by an annular recess 37. A handle 38 has its hollow shank 39 passed over the head 36 and spun into the recess 37 to secure the handle to the rod. Movement 0! the rod 35 in one direction may be limited by abutment of the shank 39 with the bushing 2.

The actuator 34 is shown in the form of a plate having one edge 40 shaped to conform to the curvature of the casing 1 and in close contact with the wall of the casing, this edge being notched as at 41 to receive slidable therein a longitudinal rib 42 pressed inwardly of the casing. This engagement of the actuator and easing prevents rotation of the actuator with respect to the casing, but permits relative longitudinal movement of these parts. The opposite edge 43 of the actuator rides upon the arm 30 between the ears 29 of its fulcrum 28 and presses the arm either into engagement with the portion 22 of the contact 11 or the portions 21 of the contact bar 19. The arm 30 is thus a movable contact in permanent electrical engagement with the contact 12 and complementary alternately with either the contact 11 or the contact 13. When the actuator 34 is in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, the arm 30 has its fingers 33 pressed into engagement with the portions 21 of the contact bar 19 and a circuit is completed from the grounded battery 44 through wire 44a, sleeve 16, contact 12, arm 30, contact bar 19, contact 13, sleeve 17, wire 45 and through the grounded gauge 46 which may be the gauge indicating the quantity of fuel carried by the motor vehicle at any given time. When the handle 38 is pulled upon to reciprocate the actuator 34 over the fulcrum 28 to press upon the arm 30 upon the opposite side of its fulcrum, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the edge 32a 0! 30 is pressed into engagement with the P tion 23 of the contact 11. The earlier de- .,acribed circuit is thereupon broken and another circuit is established through the grounded battery 44, wire 44a. sleeve 16, contact 12, arm 30, contact 11, sleeve 15, wire 47 and through the grounded gauge 48 which may indicate the oil presence. for example, of the lubricating system. The actuator 34 is permitted to pass by the fulcrum 28, while still pressing upon the arm 30, by the resiliency of the mounting 23 which yields sufliciently. for this purpose. The structure of this circuit controlling arm is broadly claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 473,823, filed August 8, 1930.

In accordancewith my invention, I have arranged means for returning the actuator to one of its alternative positions when the handle 38 is" released, such as the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 in which the gauge 46 is normally energized, as described. Such means is here represented by the compression coil spring 49 r surrounding the rod 35 and pressing at one end upon the bushing 2 and upon its other end upon the actuator 34, thus urging the actuator to its innermost position in which the arm 30 is placed in, electrical contact with the contact bar 19. The bushing 2 may be advantageously recessed axially as at 50 to receive the spring 49. Such recessing also facilitates the production of a flange 51 on the bushing by which the bushing is clamped to the casing 1.

Having described an embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In an electric switch, the combination 01. three parallel insulated contacts, two of said con tacts being continued longitudinally beyond the third; a metallic mounting fixedly engaging the contact which is not continued; a circuit controlling arm fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said mounting, one end of said arm being bent to be transverse to the contact and terminating in an edge disposed between the contacts that are continued longitudinally, said arm being movable to engage said edge alternatively with one or the other of said continued contacts; and a reciprocable actuator pressing upon the arm alternatively upon either side of its fulcrum to press the edge into engagement with one or the other of said continued contacts in alternative positions of the actuator.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of three parallel insulated contacts, two of said contacts being continued longitudinally beyond the other; a metallic mounting fixedly engaging said contact which is not continued; a circuit controlling arm fulcrummed intermediate its ends on said mounting, one end of said arm being bent to be transverse to the contacts and terminating in an edge disposed between the contacts that are continued longitudinally, said arm being movable to engage said edge alternatively with one or the other of said continued contacts; a reciprocable actuator pressing upon the arm alternatively upon either side of its fulcrum to press the edge into engagement with one or the other of said continued contacts in altem tive positions of the actuator; and a spring urging the actuator into one of said alternative positions.

3. In an electric switch, the combination 01 three parallel insulated contacts, two of said contacts being continued longitudinally beyond the other; a resilient metallic mounting fixedly engaging said contact which is not continued; a circuit controlling arm fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said mounting, one end of said arm being bent to be transverse to the contacts and terminating in an edge disposed between the contacts that are continued longitudinally, said arm being movable to engage said edge alternatively with one or the other of said continued contacts; a reciprocable actuator pressing upon the arm alternatively upon either side of its fulcrum to press the edge into engagement with one or the other of said continued contacts in alternative positions of the actuator; and a spring urging the actuator into one of said alternative positions.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with a metallic casing; of an insulating block carried by and forming a closure for said casing; parallel insulated contacts carried by said block, two of said contacts being inside the casing and the third disposed upon a laterally extended portion of the block outside the casing; wire terminal receiving means integral with said contacts upon the outside of the casing; a contact bar fixedly secured to the contact outside the casing and carried by the insulating block spaced from the other contacts, said bar having an angular portion passing through the insulating block into the interior of casing between the contacts that are within the casing, said angular portion and one of said contacts within the easing being continued longitudinally beyond the other contact which is within the casing; a metallic mounting fixedly engaging said contact that is not continued; a circuit controlling arm fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said mounting, one end of said arm being bent to be transverse to the contacts and terminating in a contact edge disposed between the contact bar and the contact that is continued longitudinally, said arm being movable to engage said edge alternately with one or the other of the bar or continued contact; and a reciprocable actuator pressing upon the arm alternately upon either side of its fulcrum to press the finger into engagement with one or the other of said bar or continued contact in alternative positions of the actuator. 5. In an electric switch, the combination with a metallic casing; of an insulating block carried by and forming a closure for said casing; parallel insulated contacts carried by said block, two of said contacts being inside the casing and the third disposed upon a laterally extended portion of the block outside the casing wire terminal receiving means integral with said contacts upon the outside of the casing; a contact bar fixedly secured to the contact outside the casing and carried by the insulating block spaced from the other contacts, said bar having an angular portion passing through the insulating block into the interior of casing between the contacts that are within the casing, said angular portion and one of said contacts within the casing being continued longitudinally beyond the other contact which is within the casing; a metallic mounting fixedly engaging said contact that is not continued; a circuit controlling arm iulcrumed intermediate its ends on said mounting, one end of said arm being bent to be transverse to the contacts and terminating in a contact edge having laterally directed finger extensions and disposed between the contact bar and the contact that is continued longitudinally, said arm being movable to engage said edge alternately with one or the other of the bar or continued contact; a reciprocable actuator pressing upon the arm alternately upon either side of its fulcrum to press the edge into engagement with one or the other of said bar or continued contact in alternative positions of the actuator; and a spring urging the actuator into one of said alternative positions.

FELIX J. WATTS. 

